The summer of 1969 cast a shadow over Hollywood, impacting even Frank Sinatra. The infamous murders of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others by Charles Manson and his followers left a deep mark. Joseph Paris, Sinatra’s former hairdresser, reflects on that dark time in his recent memoir, “Board Hairman.” Paris details his relationship with Sinatra, who died on May 14, 1998, at 82.
In the wake of the murders, Paris recalls Sinatra’s reaction. “He got two Doberman Pinschers for his Los Angeles home,” he mentioned. “He even installed an iron gate. This was serious,” he stressed, referring to the brutal killings, including that of Jay Sebring, a well-known hairdresser, in Las Vegas.
Sinatra was particularly anxious about his safety after hearing the news. Paris described how Sinatra had security measures in place, including armed guards while traveling, and always carried a .38 for protection due to overly enthusiastic fans. “They just couldn’t control themselves,” Paris explained.
Sinatra had legitimate fears tied to Manson’s cult, as he, Elizabeth Taylor, and Steve McQueen found themselves on what was touted as Manson’s hit list. Paris notes that Sinatra once received a silver .38 caliber snub-nosed pistol as a gift during this unsettling period.
The notorious Manson had been a petty criminal throughout his life, but in the ’60s, he began to cultivate a following. He distorted Beatles lyrics into calls for violence against the wealthy, ultimately leading to the high-profile murders in Los Angeles. Paris mentions that as Manson fell out of favor in the music world, he became increasingly desperate, which may have fueled his violent actions.
On the night of August 9, 1969, Manson’s followers brutally killed five people in the Polanski-Tate residence, including Abigail Folger, Jay Sebring, and Polish director Wojciech Frykowski. The following evening, another couple, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, were murdered in their home. The aftermath was grizzly; the killers even wrote messages in blood at the scenes, further cementing their notoriety.
While many in Hollywood were on edge, they couldn’t ignore the darkness at the doorstep. Paris shared that a local publication had reported a list of targets for Manson’s followers, with Sinatra among them. “That was no secret,” he insisted. The chilling nature of the crimes captured not just the public’s interest but also instilled genuine fear.
In a world that seemed increasingly unstable, the fear didn’t seem so irrational. It raised questions about safety and sanity—how do you cope when someone has literally threatened you? “Do you go into hiding? Do you wear a bulletproof vest?” Paris wondered, reflecting the collective anxiety of that time.
As the years passed, Manson and his followers faced a complex legal and social saga—eventually receiving life sentences after the death penalty was abolished in California. Manson died in prison in 2017, but the long shadows he cast over individuals like Sinatra are enduring. Paris emphasizes that through the lens of his new book, readers might see a side of Sinatra that was often overshadowed by rumors and innuendos, revealing a man who, while closely tied to the entertainment world, was also much more complicated.
Paris fondly recalled his friendship with Sinatra, describing him as compassionate and deeply loyal. “He treated me like family,” Paris noted, underscoring a bond formed in tumultuous times.
